"Bolton writes about life in New York City in the early 1970s in so much detail that you feel as if you were there with the characters.

She introduces us to another facet of life in the mafia as a minority without making their existence in the culture seem tragic. Each chapter is tense with sudden twists and turns, but the story never falls flat or repetitive; it stays fascinating with new surprises throughout."

"Bolton aptly captures the tempestuous spirit of the time--a volatile brew of political radicalism, crime, racial tension, and sexual libertinism--and her painstaking historical research is evident onvirtually every page."

The Rude Boy USA Trilogy

“At times the read is very harsh, violent and scandalous but never uninteresting. You will find yourself either shocked, blushing or crying at the sudden twists and turns that occur throughout.”

Fans of novels about mob action and organized crime, especially those which include historical facts within their story lines, will relish Rude Boy USA, which is set in the 1960s and revolves around a New York City gang, Chimera, which attracts the attention of a top organized crime family.

As the group evolves into a crime syndicate run by four leaders, murder, sex, and struggle assume new levels of reality and insight in a thriller thoroughly grounded in a diverse variety of characters and special interests. Many social issues are also examined from different perspectives, from the fluid relationships between men and women to questions of race and heritage that ultimately dictate attitudes and choices in life ("...Passing can only get you so far," she said. "I don't care about what anybody thinks. I do it because it gets me ahead. It's hard out there. I know what I am, and that's all I care about. I mean, they may look like nice people, they may seem nice and tolerant and understanding of who you are, but when they get angry at you for whatever reason - when she gets mad - her white hood comes out.").

From men who sleep with different women without loving any of them to emotional, racial, and gang obligations that take precedence over all else, Rude Boy USA constantly provides a smooth interaction between protagonists with different perspectives on life and its values in a thriller marked with nonstop confrontations. Be forewarned: this process includes sex, violence, drugs, and crime (it would not be a proper crime story without these elements).

Love, betrayal, friendships, and gang connections all simmer beneath the atmosphere of the 1960s in New York City, making for a riveting, highly recommended read especially recommended for fans of historical novels or mob stories.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

A story that begins with someone spitting in another’s face and getting tortured and killed for a secret he can’t reveal immediately raises a lot of interest and curiosity in readers, but the grim fun is yet to begin. Rude Boy USA by Victoria Bolton is a riveting story of an unquenchable thirst for power and terror, featuring characters that will draw powerful emotions from readers. Bernie Banks has slowly but surely established himself as a powerful gangster with unusual but ruthless methods of operating. At a time he and his boys are sure to get on the top of the game, a powerful rival joins the game and a waitress causes a distraction that could break the solid Chimera Group. The big question is: who’ll make it to the top in this game of power where no one accepts defeat?

Victoria Bolton’s Rude Boy USA will take readers deep into the psychology of kingpins and the mechanics of the game of power. Bolton writes with unwavering confidence and grace, unveiling a plot that is laced with unusual turns and sudden surprises, a pace that quickens with the reader’s heartbeat. The characters are as real as they are compelling, sometimes funny and at times very, very nasty. The language is blunt, so blunt the reader can squirm at times at what they hear. The dialogue comes off the pages naturally and draws readers in as the plot progresses to a rocket-like climax. This is a book I will gladly recommend to fans of thrillers and crime fiction. An enjoyable read indeed.

If you're looking for your next thrilling book adventure, you've come to the right place.

Somehow, this author has managed to blend together the perfect mix of a steady-paced plot and a suspenseful undertone. As you dig deeper into the story, you may find yourself coming to the conclusion that as the saying goes "There's more to the story than meets the eye.". The characters are complex and interesting. The setting brings forward a sort of nostalgia that not all books are able to present. The first page is just as entrancing as the last page, and the last page is just as suspenseful as the first. Until you read the last line, anything could happen in this book.

When I was reading this book, there was a contradiction of sorts taking place in my mind. With nearly every page I turned, I was hoping that the Chimera Group would be able to accomplish their goal of becoming just as well-known and feared as the other crime families in the area. I wanted the to gain power, and I wanted them to gain respect from the Cosa Nostra right along with that power. Essentially, the author was able to make me go against all of my morals and cheer on the criminals in this epic tale. Now, THAT'S powerful writing.

Historical Crime/Organized Crime isn't even my preferred genre of story...actually, I wouldn't even be quick to say that it has ever held a place in my top ten...but this story has a different feel. This is a beautiful Historical Crime piece, but it's also a book that has an element to appease almost any reader that encounters its pages. There are few stories that would hand such a high praise to, but after losing myself in the chapter of this one, I haven't hesitated before writing all that I have.

This is a title that I have recommended to all my "reader friends" and my "bookworm family". I can never pick a favorite character, and I can never pick a favorite quote. Every time someone asks, I just have to tell them to read it for themselves, because this is the kind of story that cannot be explained, it just has to be experienced. The details are so thrilling, and the storyline is so realistic that you can actually feel a connection with the characters...even if you didn't live through the era of the Godfathers.

So, the question still stand: Will they make it to the top, or will they fall? If you want to find out, you're going to have to read this one for yourself, and if you don't want to find out, then there's nothing more for me to say other than "This one is your loss...".